Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the savings offers appearing on this site are from advertisers from which this website receives compensation for being listed here. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). These offers do not represent all deposit accounts available.

Cell Phone Only - Save Money By Ditching the Land Line Phone

Published 10/9/07 (Modified 3/8/11)
By MoneyBlueBook

I was a late comer to the cell phone scene, but once I got the cell phone I ditched the traditional land line. Today, I only use cell phones and my high speed internet service. Who wants to pay for an extra land line?

I have not owned a traditional land line phone since I started using a cell phone more than half a decade ago. Frankly I just don't see the need to have an extra line that can only be used at home. I know advocates of land line service point out that wireless phones can be unreliable and that for emergencies it is best to have a land line, but in my opinion, my most potentially critical emergencies aren't likely to occur at home. My crucial times of need will likely occur on the road or somewhere far away from traditional phone lines when I may need to summon help from afar. At that time, only my trusty cell phone will do the job and my clunky land line sitting at home won't do me any good.

I'm Not Alone And I'm Part of A Trend

Apparently, I am part of a growing movement towards cell phone only households. According to a recent study by Mediamark research, a firm that has been tracking such data since the mid 1980s, the firm found for the first time that cell-phone only households were starting to outnumber land line-only homes. More than a quarter of young adults have only cell phones, making them the leading edge of a strengthening move away from traditional landline telephones. The trend will no doubt sure to keep moving in that direction as more young adults who rely on cell phones don't see the need for a landline and the extra bill that comes with it when they start paying rent.

Disclaimer: Discover is a paid advertiser of this site. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the Discover online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards.

11 Responses to “Cell Phone Only - Save Money By Ditching the Land Line Phone”

Lynnae @ Being Frugal says:October 9, 2007 at 3:08 am

I still have a landline that we use for local calls. I think it's harder for families with kids to give up a landline than it is for single people or couples without children.

My daughter is just now getting to the age where her friends are calling her on the phone. I feel that my daughter is too young for a cell phone, and I don't really want her friends calling me when I'm out and about.

Plus, in a few years my daughter will be old enough to babysit my son, and I wouldn't want to leave her home without a phone....yet I'd want to have my phone with me, so she could reach me if there was a problem.

It just gets more complicated once you have kids. :)

Patrick says:October 9, 2007 at 6:02 am

I have been land line free for almost 7 years, and I love it. Lynnae does bring up a good point though. I think that after my wife and I have kids we may get a landline. It will be an added expense, but one that will probably be worth it.

Raymond says:October 9, 2007 at 11:37 am

I appreciate the comments. I guess I speak mostly through the perspective of a single person without children.

But these days they even have cell phones that have GPS systems attached that allows you to tracker your child's movements. Kids these days are getting phones earlier and earlier. If I had a child I'd probably give him or her one to get them started on learning to handle the responsibility of owning a cell phone.

lulu says:October 9, 2007 at 11:50 am

I stopped using a land line a few years ago. I had a roommate when I went to college and the phone was in her name. She hogged the phone and would not pass on messages when she checked the voicemail.

I got a cellphone and immediately fell in love with the convenience of having it. I stopped using my land line and then got rid of it completely when I discovered high speed internet. I have an internet phone that uses my high speed connection and I always have my cellphone with me.

I do not even remember what it is like to use a landline and I do not miss it at all.

Yan says:October 9, 2007 at 5:06 pm

I still have my land line. I use the number to give it away when I sign up to credit card offers and such. Also, international calls we make to our parents can be VERY long and no cell plan is good enough to cover the minutes.

Interestingly though, my land line is via VOIP provider, and my broadband internet is wireless, so essentially I use no cables for either phone or internet. Consider me wireless! :-)

Angela says:March 6, 2008 at 10:53 am

Well, I never thought I would ever get a landline after graduating college and actually looked forward it being a saved expense, BUT unfortunatly, my home security service actually runs on it...can't help but keep it around.

Raymond says:March 6, 2008 at 12:53 pm

Angela,

That is an excellent point. I never realized that many home security system are hooked up to existing land line phone connections to access the call for help function. Perhaps they will tap into internet Voice over IP (VOIP) calling one of these days.

Frank Lee says:September 20, 2009 at 7:01 pm

I have to keep my landline for the gate in my development. It's keyed to the phone system to allow visitors in.

But I did dump my contract cell phone and have saved money by doing so! I got a prepaid phone... and I love it.

I got Straight Talk. It's unlimited for $45 a month, prepaid (so no bills) and on Verizon's network… the best.

Unlimited talk and texts, plus 30MB of data, which is about 350 web pages. Fantastic deal.

Bobby Walker says:October 24, 2009 at 9:38 pm

Wow! What a site. You have a real knack for making a blog readable and easy on the eyes. Some sites look like train wrecks, but not yours - it's a pleasure to read. I find VoIP very interesting. I have learned a lot in implementing a small VoIP network at home, and am thinking of starting VoIP business in my area. There are a number of small businesses in my region that would benefit from it greatly.

Pat Yoe says:December 19, 2009 at 4:41 pm

I also have Straight Talk, which is just an amazing deal.

I was skeptical at first but everything good I'd heard about it is true.

No more crappy coverage from AT+T. The Verizon network is solid and I haven't dropped a call yet.

I think $45 a month is fantastic and I got a very nice Samsung phone with a qwerty keyboard so texting and web surfing is easy too.

I'm saving hundreds of dollars a year now so it's pretty awesome.

I'm not the only one who thinks so, either.

Murry Katz says:January 30, 2010 at 1:39 pm

I have Straight Talk on the Verizon network. Bought it at Walmart and it's an amazing deal. The Samsung Finesse is a very cool smartphone and paying only $45 a month for unlimited everything is the best deal going!

Disclaimer: Because rates and offers from advertisers shown on this website change frequently,
please visit referenced sites for current information.
This website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs or otherwise.

Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the savings offers
appearing on this site are from advertisers from which this website receives compensation for being listed here.
This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). These offers do not represent all deposit accounts available.

Disclaimer: Because rates and offers from advertisers shown on this website change frequently, please visit referenced sites for current
information. This website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs or otherwise.